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Polly Harding, Sophie Cornish, Emily Gunnis and Claudia Vincenzi said: "We are incredibly touched and overwhelmed by the tributes to Penny from the industry and her readers."

They praised her for her encouragement and support, and added: ""She was endlessly positive and resilient but perhaps would most want to be remembered as the extraordinary role model that she was."

"A true trailblazer, her ambition matched her talent, enabling her to break down barriers and show others behind her - especially her daughters - what it was possible to achieve, professionally and personally."

Vincenzi's books often had romantic storylines but featured strong heroines who sought success in their careers as well as love.

"She always said she wanted to die at her typewriter," the statement continued. "Only last week she was still galloping through her new novel, so she fulfilled her ambitions to the last."

Vincenzi's agent Clare Alexander also paid tribute to her, saying the author's "special gift as a novelist was her love for her characters, and that came from her deep interest in not only the people in her imagination, but also in everyone she ever met".

Author Sophie Kinsella, who was also a friend of Vincenzi's, remembered her as "the most entertaining of friends".

"As an author I so admired her ability to weave together huge, epic plotlines and create such satisfying books full of real life, wit and passion," she said. "She was like one of her own novels: once you were in her company you didn't want to say goodbye. I will really miss her."